The Imo State Government has launched a full-scale demolition of unauthorised structures built on government-designated lands across the state.
Officials have clarified that the Imo State Housing Corporation lacks the authority to allocate any portion of public land for private use, declaring all such allocations invalid.
Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, revealed that investigations uncovered illegal occupation of government verges by individuals using backdated and fraudulent allocation documents to claim ownership.
He specifically mentioned Aladinma Garden Estate, where some occupants have been presenting questionable papers to justify their presence on the land.
According to Nwaneri, official government records confirm that these allocations have no legal standing. He explained that verges, public lands reserved for utility easements and road buffers, cannot be lawfully assigned for private or commercial purposes by any government agency, including the Housing Corporation.
“The government is determined to uphold urban planning standards and protect public infrastructure,” Nwaneri stated. “Illegal occupation of these verges violates land use regulations and creates serious problems, including blocked drainage systems that cause flooding and damage to newly reconstructed roads.”
The governor’s aide warned that all encroaching structures will be removed without further notice, emphasising the state’s commitment to reclaiming public lands for their intended purposes.
The demolition exercise aims to restore order, prevent environmental hazards, and ensure proper land management in line with the state’s development goals. Residents with legitimate claims have been urged to present verifiable documents for review, while illegal occupants face immediate eviction.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
